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Choo delivers win for Tribe vs. Phils

Choo delivers win for Tribe vs. Phils

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By Anthony Castrovince
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MLB.com |

INDIANS 7, PHILLIES 6at Winter Haven, Fla.Thursday, March 8

Indians at the plate: Shin-Soo Choo was the hero of the day, driving in the tying and winning runs with his two-run single in the bottom of the ninth. The Tribe got a nice middle-of-the-order punch from Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez, who combined for five RBIs. Hafner's first-inning single put runners on the corners for Martinez, who blasted Brian Mazone's 0-1 pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run homer. In the seventh, with two on, Hafner came through with a bases-clearing double to center.

Phillies at the plate: Ryan Howard drilled C.C. Sabathia's inside fastball the other way for a solo homer to left in the second inning. It was Howard's second homer this spring, and both have come against the Tribe. Chase Utley had a pair of hits, including an RBI double in the fourth, and Jimmy Rollins had an RBI single in the fifth. Abraham Nunez jump-started a three-run eighth with a two-run homer to left off Rafael Perez.

Indians on the mound: In his second Grapefruit League outing, Sabathia went three innings. The Howard homer was the only damage against him, as he allowed just that one hit and struck out one. Jason Davis, competing for a bullpen job, gave up two runs on four hits in two innings of relief, while Brian Sikorski pitched a pair of scoreless innings.

Phillies on the mound: Mazone had a rough start with that Martinez homer. He settled down after that, allowing the three runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout in three innings. Right-hander Anderson Garcia pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Mazone, while Alfredo Simon gave up a pair of runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.

Grapefruit League records: Phillies 4-4; Indians 6-2.

Up next: The Indians are splitting up on Friday to play the Reds in Sarasota and the Pirates at home in Winter Haven. Right-hander Adam Miller will get the start against the Reds, opposite right-hander Bronson Arroyo, while right-hander Paul Byrd will start against righty Shawn Chacon and the Bucs. The Phillies will return home to Clearwater to face the Red Sox. Left-hander Cole Hamels will get the start, with left-hander Kason Gabbard starting for Boston.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.